Foot-operated direction signal switch



April 21, 1953 P. L. SCHNEIDER 2,636,092

FOOT-OPERATED DIRECTION SIGNAL SWITCH Filed March 16. v1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 3 no e n to r f @f2/fvwm@ Gttornegs Patented Apr. 21, 1953 FOOT-OPERATED DIRECTION SIGNAL SWITCH Paul L. Schneider, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, corporation of Delaware Detroit, Mich., a

Application March 16, 1950, Serial No. 150,086 9 Claims. (Cl. l200-59) -This invention relates to motor vehicle direction signaling systems having a plurality of signaling circuits and has particular reference to a foot-operated direction signal switch.

The invention resides in a switch mechanism having a base member attachable to a vehicle floor or toe panel and a pedal pivotally mounted on the base member for limited clockwise or counterclockwise rotation with respect thereto. The pedal carries an arm which positions a sliding contact of a multiple switch for energizing the respective direction signaling circuits.

In view of the recent tendency in automobile design to eliminate the clutch pedal, this invention is particularly advantageous to provide direction indicating signals by a slight movement of the left foot, thereby freeing both hands to steer the vehicle, this being particularly desirable when turning first in one direction and then another in rapid sequence.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference is made tothe specification wherein there is described the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a foot-operated direction signal switch mounted on the toe panel portion of the floor, shown in section, of a motor vehicle;

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the switch assembly approximately along the line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is an end view, with parts broken away and in section, along the line 3 3 of Figure 2, showing the positions of switch members in the neutral and one of tions;

Figure 4 is a perspective view o1 the switch assembly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3; and

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the entire direction signaling system.

Referring to the drawings, the foot-operated direction signal switch assembly, indicated generally by il), is mounted upon the toe panel l2 in the drivers compartment of a motor vehicle. This assembly, as best shown in Figures 2, 5 and 4 includes a base member I4, which is shown as bent to conform to the contour of the toe panel and secured thereto preferably by screws I6 and lock washers IS.

' A central portion of the rearward end of the base member is bent to provide an upwardly extending flange having an opening 22 in which the rearward end of a pin 24 is journaled. This pin has its central portion and forward end supported by the channel-shaped bracket 2t the operative posiel-O which is seated upon and preferably welded to the base member I4, the upturned llanges 28 and 30 of this channel having openings 32 and 34, respectively, providing bearings for the pin.

A generally T-shaped switch lever or pedal 3B has downwardly extending flanges 38 and 40 at its rearward and forward ends, respectively. This pedal is pivotally mounted on the pin 24 by providing flanges 38 and 40 with openings 42 and 44 through which the pin 24 is inserted. The shaft has its rearward end provided with an enlarged head 4B and its forward end provided with a cotter pin 48 and washer 50 to secure the shaft axially within these ange openings. Washers 52 and 54 are positioned on the shaft between anges 38 and 20 and between flanges 30 and 4l), respectively, to facilitate smooth and quiet operation of the pedal. An L-shaped supporting member 56 is secured to the lower surface of the central portion of the pedal 3S by welding or other appropriate means, the downwardly extending leg 58 having a hole 50 in which the pin rides. This L-shaped member lends structural rigidity to the pedal, preventing its downward distortion and binding with the pin or flanges 2U and 30.

A switch bracket 62, positioned forward of the pedal, has a base fiange 64 secured to the base member, preferably by screws i6. Near the base of the bracket is an aperture 66 through which the forward end of the pin 24 projects. 'A conventional type of multiple switch E8, which will subsequently be described in greater detail, is mounted by screws 1U or other appropriate means to the legs 'l2 and 'I4 of the bracket 52, as shown in Figure 4. The central portion of this bracket supports a retainer l5 for a helical compression Vspring 18, which rearwardly biases a ball 80. Rigdly secured, preferably by welding, to the downwardly extending ilange 4E at the forward end of. the pedal 36 is a switch plate 82 having tapered upper and lower portions. the latter being provided with an opening 84, substantially registering with opening 411 in flange 4Q, in which the forward end of the pin is positioned. In the approximate center of the switch plate is a small opening 86, in which the ball 3i? is resliently seated by the spring 78 when the switch is in the neutral position, indicated by the solid lines in Figure 3, the opening i together with the spring-biased ball thereby forming a detent mechanism. Near the upper end of the switch plate 82 is an oblong vertical slot 88 through which a switch operating arm projects. The switch plate is therefore adapted for limited pivotal movement to actuate the switch B8 by transversely sliding the switch arm 9G, thereby connecting the signaling circuits to a source of current, usually the vehicle battery.

The switch, as best shown in Figure 2, is a type commonly used with direction signal operating mechanisms and includes a terminal plate 92 of insulating material connected to theleads S6 of the cable 9S. This terminal plate forms one side of the switch enclosure in which there is positioned a sliding block Q23 of insulating material having bridging bars 23S, 2HE andA 2|2-recessed inl its inner face and the switch arm extending rear.- wardly from its outer face through the transverse slot Iii@ in the switch casing Iil. These bridging bars bridge the terminal contacts, which maybe of any suitable type such as connectors or rivets W2 having a recess adapted for attachment to leads Sli, to energize and cle-energize the circuits of the signaling system.

Mounted upon the upper surface of the legs Hl/li' and iii of the pedal E'by screws I 'are left and right pedal pads Ii@ and H2, respectively, which a-rershown as having curved upper surfaces to provide ready positioning orv the foot thereon.

A at spring it, preferably of tempered'sprin-g steel, has a base portion I it seated upon the'base member it and secured thereto. by screws ||8 and lock Washers iilil. A spring plate |22 is provided between the heads of the screws andthe spring base to serve as a stiiiener for the spring. The spring legs i and |2, extending outwardly and laterally from the base portion, have curved ends which project against the lower surfacerof the arms |65 and itt of the pedal 36, thereby ererting upward pressure against these arms to cause smooth and positive operation of' the switching device. Upon release of the pedal from an operative position, this'spring returns the switch arm Sil to the neutral position.

in operation one or the other of the pedal arms lt and |05 is depressed by the left foot of the vehicle driver, therebyr moving the pedal clockwise or countercloclnvise to its extreme position to rotate the switch plate t2. The pedal position indicating a right turn is shown with broken lines in Figure 3. The switch plate simultanecusly slides the switch arm either to the' left or to the right in thetransverse slot` mil in the rear 'wail ot-he switchcasing,l thereby'actuating ,s

the switch and completing an electrical circuit to indicate a turn in the appropriate direction. Thepedalplate 35 is automatically returned to the neutral positionY indicated with solid lines" in Figure by the action of the spring I I4.

To provides. visual indicationV of the direction of turn contemplated by the operator cravehicle the contact terminals of switch SB areconnected to a 'plurality of cir-cuits of a signaiingsystem, including right and left front and' right and left rear signaling lamps. As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the system comprises a battery IEBhaving one terminal connected to ground by a conductor |33V and the other tcrminal'connecta ed to the hinged armatures |32 and |3of, a solehold-operated flasher |35 by conductor |33.' The armature |32 is provided with a. contact |138 which is normally out oi engagement with fixed contact M2. The armature itiis similarly pro- Yvided with contact idd which is also normally out of engagement with ixed contact it. Armature |32 and contactY its are connected by a conductor |153 or" predetermined resistance which when not carrying current urges the armature |32 and the contact |55 to a position where engagement IC I of contacts |40 and |42 is broken. Conductor |48 is connected to a resistor |50 which has its opposite terminal connected to the fixed contact |42 by a conductor |52. Contact |42 is also connected by a conductor |54 to one terminal of the solenoid coil |56. The other end ofthe solenoid coil is connected'by a conductor |53 to a contact terminal IE@ of the switch 58. Contact IE6 is connected by a conductor |62 to the filament |64 of a---pilot light mounted on the dash panel of the vehicle,- the other-end of the filament being connected by a conductor |56 to ground.

The left and right rear signaling lamps of the systemxhave one side of their lilaments |58 and F9 vconnected by conductors |12 and |14, respectively, to contact terminals |15 and |18 of the switch vandtheother side of the filaments connected toground by conductors |88 and |82. The left and right front signaling lamps of the system have one side of their filaments |84 and |86 connected'b'y conductors |88 and |90, respectively, tortc-rminals |92'and |94ofthe switcli, and thecther side'of'laments |84and |86 are'rconnected to ground byconductors |96'and ISB'; The remaining terminal 2M of'switcl'i 68' is connected by aconductor-'Eilto one terminal orfV a normally open switch* 26kt', which is closed by operation of thebralre pedal'ofthe vehicle; Theother terminalof switch 294 is connected by a conductor 206 to ccnductor'l. As heretofore'described, the switch 58 isprovided with a sliding block'a'which carries bridging bars 20S, 2 |0` and 2|2vfor providing energization of therespectivelamp laments in-accordance with the operation of the A'pedal Y36 Figure' 5 shows theneutral' position of the switch 5S, thebridging contact bar 2|2-bridging contact terminals |116", |131 and-'2130. With-the switch St in this position, the laments Hi8-and ll 1B of the left and rightrear signaling lamps, respectively, may be energized by the operation of the vehicle brake pedal closing switch 204, indicating to a following vehicle theV intention of slowing the Vehicle or coming to a stop. Current iscarried to filaments |68 and |16 from the bat'- tery |23 throughv conductors |33' and` 296, brake switch 26d, conductor 202; terminal contact'200, bridging contact and conductors |12 and |14.

To indicate a left turn the left pedal arm |134 is depressed, thereby rotating the pedal andthe attached switch plate in a counterclockwise direction,l viewing the switch operating mechanism' from the rearward end. This simultaneously slides the'switchV arm 9Std the left', causing bridg-l ing Vcontact- ,'if oi' switch |53 toY bridge terminal 'contacts its, l1@ and @Zand-'bridging contact Eit 'to shift, unbrid'ging Contact terminal |15 but retainingbridging engagement with contactterinin'ais l'dand 2Go; Bridging contactjzlltiscorrespondingly moredout of engagement with terminalcontact i3d. With this switchingarrangement a circuit is completedY from thebattery |28' to the left front and rear laments |68 and |i through conductor |38', armature |32, hot wire resistance conductor ld, resistor |5Bconl ductors |52 and Etsolenoid coil |55, conductor, |53,l bridgingl contact 212,7and conductors |12 and its. Current passing through the hot wire resistor i ft.. causes. it to .heat and simultaneously. expand permitting the magnetic force of 'solenoid coil |5 to attract armature |32 closing. contact |1555 oncontact i122.. This causes thecurrent to byep'ass hot wire i and resistor |56, permit-` ting sufficient current to pass through the sole. noid coil |56 to attract armature |3ll. andclosel contactA ld on contact Mt, thereby completing a.

circuit from the battery |28, through conductor |38, armature |64 of thepilot light to cause it to glow.A With to break the contact engagement between contacts |40 and |42, thereby placing resistor |55) back in the circuit and preventing suicient current to now to cause laments |55 and |84 to be energized. With the flasher |36 in the circuits and operating as described, the left iront and rear filaments provide .dashing signals and the pilot light is illuminated during each period in which suihcient current passes in the circuits of laments |68 and 81S to cause them to glow.

Applying the brakes when the switch is in this left-turn position closes switch Zed, completing a circuit from the battery 28 through conductors |38 and 29d, switch 204, conductor 2ii2, bridging contact 208, conductor |74 to lament H0. The lament I'Ill will then receive a steady iiow of current from the battery to provide a constant source of illumination for the right rear lamp, while the left front and rear lamps wili be iiashed on and oir by the asher |35.

To indicate a right turn, the right pedal arm is depressed, as shown with broken lines in Figure 3, causing the pedal and switch plate 82 to rotate in a clockwise direction and the switch pin to slide to the right, a circuit condition similar to that previously described for a left turn exists except that the bridging contact 2N2 of switch 58 bridges terminal contacts |50, |18 and |94 while bridging contact 20S engages contacts H and 296 and unbridges contact |155.

brake switch 2M is closed the left rear lamp lament will receive a constant ilow of current and provide a steady glow signal.

While the described embodiment of the present invention constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A foot-operated signa). switch for use on the door of an automotive vehicle and comprising a base member adapted to be secured to the vehicle door, a pedal pivotally mounted on said base member and having a switch plate attached thereto, a multiple switch and a detent mechanism for indexing said switch plate in its neutral position mounted on the forward end of said base member, and a switch arm slidably operated by said switch plate for actuating the switch.

2. A foot-operated direction signal switch for use on the door of an automotive vehicle comprising a base member adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle floor, a pin journaled in said base member, a multiple switch and an encased spring-biased ball mounted upon the forward end of said base member, a pedal pivotally mounted on said pin and having a switch plate attached to its forward end, said plate having an opening in which said spring-biased ball seats when the switch is in the neutral position, and a switch arm engageable by said switch plate for actuating the switch.

3. A direction signal switch for mounting on the toe-plate portion of the floor of an automotive vehicle for foot operation from a neutral to an indicating position and for automatic operation to said neutral position from said indicating position, which switch comprises a base member adapted to be rigidly secured to the floor, a switch and a detent mechanism secured to said base member, said switch being provided with a transversely slidable operating arm, a pin journaled in said base member, a pedal pivotaily mounted on said pin and having transversely extending legs at its rearward end, a spring secured to said base member and projecting against the pedal legs, and, rigidly secured to and extending from said pedal plate, a switch plate engageable by said detent mechanism and having an opening to engage the operating arm of the switch.

4. A foot-operated direction signal device adapted to be mounted on the door of an automotive vehicle and comprising a base member secured to said floor, a longitudinally extending pin rotatably supported on said base member, a multiple switch having a longitudinally eX- tending, transversely slidable operating arm and an encased spring-biased ball supported on the forward portion of said base member, a pedal pivotally mounted on said pin for limited rotary movement and having legs laterally extending from its rearward portion, a switch plate secured to the forward end of said pedal and having its upper end engaging the switch operating arm and its central portion apertured to receive the spring-biased ball, thereby permitting the pivoting of the pedal to laterally position the switch arm and actuate the switch.

5. A foot-operated direction signal device for automotive vehicles adapted to be mounted on the toe panel portion of the vehicle door for foot operation from a neutral to an indicating position and for automatic operation to said neutral position from said indicating position in response to pressure of a spring, which device oomprises a base member rigidly secured to the door, a multiple switch secured to a forward portion of said base member and having a rearwardly extending arm for operating said switch, a pedal with laterally extending legs at its rearward end pivotally mounted on the base member, a spring secured to said base member and projecting against the pedal legs, a switch plate rigidly seupwardly from said pedal and having two apertures therein, one of said apertures engaging the switch arm, the other of said apertures providing a detent opening, a casbase member, in said casing, and a ball yieldingly urged by said spring towards said detent opening.

6. A foot-operated signal device comprising a base member adapted to be secured to the door of an automotive vehicle, a pedal pivotally base member, a switch mounted on said base member, a detent mechanism connected to said base member and adapted to norin said member, a switch providing a detent mechanismv mounted on-the forward: endof; said' base member, said switch being providediwithan operating arm which 'is slidable generally 'trans'-v versely. to the longitudinal axis of said pin, a pedal pivotally. mounted on said pinandY having an arm member engaging the operating arm for actuating the switch, and a spring associated with said base member for automatically moving said switch arm iroinan` indicating position to .a neutral position.

8. A' foot-operated directionsignal device for mounting on the floor of a vehicle, said device comprising a 'base member adapted to be secured to said. iioor, a pedal pivotally mounted on said base. member for limitedv rotary movement, a switch ami/:ed to said basemember and provided withv a spring-biased `ball, and a plate secured to said pedal for actuating said switch; a portion of said plate being -apertured to vreceiveftlie springbiased ball.

9. Aiootfoperatedl direction signal mechanism comprising a base member adaptedto be mount edronlt'he floor oia vehicle, a pin Supportedjby said base member; a' pedal pivotaily mounted on said pin for limited rotary movement, a switch aiixed to saidbase member; and provided with aA slidable switch arm andV aspringfbiasedY ball. a; switch plateY secured toA said pedalforengaging said switch arm, whereby pivoting of the pedalslides the switch armto actuatethe switch, a portion of said switch plate rbeing aperturedto receive the spring-biased ball for indexing'said switch in its neutral position.

PAUL L. SCHNEIDER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

